Theo Bos Wins Classic of Almeria

28-Feb-2010: Cervélo TestTeam’s Theo Bos (NED) captured his first victory of the season, and as a TestTeam rider today winning the one day Classic of Almeria. The 173.4 kilometre race celebrating its twenty-fifth edition, started and finished in the southern Spanish city of Almeria.

Dropped on one of the climbs Bos, with the help of his teammates, fought back successfully to beat Cavendish (GBR-HTC-Columbia) for the win. Third place was taken by Grame Brown (AUS-Rabobank), while Cervélo’s Davide Appollonio (ITA), placed fifth.

“It was a pretty hard course today,” said Theo Bos. “At the beginning of the race I was in the second group along with Mark Cavendish. In the downhill I was too far behind and the group split. But fortunately the cap became bigger and Iñigo Cuesta, Philip Deignan (IRL) and Marcel Wyss (SUI) set the tempo on the front. Then we were able to come back into the peloton and prepare for the sprint. It was a strange situation in the final as no team was able to control the bunch. I was too far behind and nobody went and I was in pretty good position in the last 300 metres. When we got close to the finish nobody started to sprint so I decided to go full gas. Cavendish waited long and he was not able to pass me in the last few metres.”

“It was a really fast race for the first 20 kilometres and that’s also when the day’s only breakaway of four riders took place,” said Marcello Albasini, sports director. “Their maximum time was around seven minutes from the bunch. Stefan Denifl (AUT) tried to become part of it, but did not succeed and they were pulled back in after approximately 30 kilometres. Today’s race contained three category 3 climbs. On the second climb the longest and steepest of the day, Theo got dropped. We knew that was a risk and had anticipated it. So with the help of Iñigo Cuesta (ESP), Marcel Wyss (SUI) and Philip Deignan (IRL) Bos caught up to the first group some twenty kilometres later. With Appollonio, Xavier Tondo (ESP) and Stefan Denfil (AUT) in the first group we were joking at one point that Davide would go for the sprint today. But with 30 km to the finish we came back with strength and in the last 400 metres with a slight 2% rise, Bos with Appollonio’s assistance was able to beat Cavendish for the win. It was a terrific team effort today.”